Diploma in Youth Mission and Ministry

Work with Young People? Got a heart for Christian mission to young people and want to learn more? Want to reflect on your ministry, and look at ways forward to develop your work? Whether you are in full-time youth ministry, or one of the many volunteers who work with young people inside and outside the church week by week, then the Youth Mission and Ministry diploma is for you.

The diploma is a two year, part time undergraduate course which is aiming to further the training of youth workers to think theologically about their own practice, to offer insights into cultural issues, and to explore relevant church models and leadership roles to the adolescent world. The aim of the course is to produce ‘reflective practitioners', students who are rooted in ministry but have reflected on the issues surrounding that ministry. This is offered through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, group tutorials and individual learning. An increasingly large proportion of diploma students now progress onto the BA (Hons) in Children's and Youth Ministry course.

Using students current youth work experience as their placement, and assessed by assignments and a focused research project, the course covers the unit areas:

• The Youth work context: Biblical and Contemporary
• Reaching Young People: Mission Theology
• The Youth Worker: Personal and Professional Development
• Youth Culture: Issues facing Adolescents
• Young People: Spirituality and Church

The teaching is offered through five week long residential teaching units spread over the 2 years (3 in year 1, 2 in year 2), supported by supervised distance learning. In addition to the research project of 6,000 words which is delivered at the end of the course, a variety of assignments are set for completion between each teaching block.

This course, as with all our undergraduate courses, is validated by The University of Manchester and provides unique training in Children's Evangelism. The Course Director is Ian White, Children's and Youth Work Programme Leader at Cliff College supported by the Course Leader, Paul Wilcox with teaching input by Piers Lane, Cliff College Tutor and a variety of practice based theologians; Bart Woodhouse, Jo Frost and Robin Rolls.

There is a limit of 25 students per year accepted on this popular course. If you are interested, then download the YMM application form, reference form and prospectus.

Or please contact our Undergraduate Administrator, Rosie Bourne for an application form and prospectus should you wish it to be sent by mail.

Qualifications required for all Part-Time Diploma courses

Admission to any of the part-time diploma courses is based on appraisal of qualities of character, perceived potential and Christian conviction. Evidence of academic potential and ability to profit from study is essential. Potential is assessed through references (including academic references for those recently in education) and an interview at the College or by a course tutor. As with all courses in the children's and youth work stream, students will need to have contact with children or young people for at least 100 hours per year.

Prospective students will either:

• have completed the Cliff College Certificate in Biblical and Evangelistic Ministry (validated by the University of Sheffield at Level 4) OR the Cliff College Certificate in Theology (validated by the University of Manchester at Level 4)
• have undertaken equivalent courses of study (Level 4) OR
• have evidence of post-sixteen study and significant experience in the relevant field and focus of the diploma course (students will be required to complete and submit an APEL (Accredited Prior Experiential Learning) form
  
  

  Successful completion of either the CEN or YMM courses allows progression to the BA (Hons) in Children's and Youth Ministry.